Parking advice for newbies....?

[l4dyj8]

Sadly, the Pumbaa lot is rarely open to the public anymore and is used more often as CM parking. On busier weekends/holidays they may open it, but it has been closed off for the majority of summer so far. It's by far the best lot to park in when it is open though!

Oh really? That's good to know

We have been directed to park at the Garden (?) structure across the street a few times. At this point, they comp it when it's a predicted busy day.

I agree with everyone that the Tram to Mickey at the end of a long day is the worst due to the shoving and scrambling

 

[LegoMom3]

So if I'm reading correctly, there is a walkway from M&F to the parks? I'll be solo, and usually if I have the option to walk, I'll take that!

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[dina444444]

So if I'm reading correctly, there is a walkway from M&F to the parks? I'll be solo, and usually if I have the option to walk, I'll take that!

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From M&F there is a path out of the Pinocchio parking area that goes to the Downtown Disney parking lot entrance and you walk through Downtown Disney.

There used to be a dedicated walking path, but they closed it when they redid the security perimeter.

 

[LegoMom3]

Quick update! We went up last Friday; arrived at the Mickey & Friends lot at 8:40am -- super easy access from Exit 110 off the 5 northbound....the payment booths were only a couple of cars deep, so we got right through there. Ended up parking at the very top, in the Minnie section, and got the first space just two rows from the escalators, which dropped us right by security. Trams were loading as we arrived there and we were first in line for the next tram (the same happened when we left, and we left the park at 7pm on a night it was closing at 10:00).

There were SO many people just arriving when we were leaving, so I can see what sort of mayhem it would be with the trams if you left at closing!!

Overall I was pleased with the experience. I will familiarize myself with the location of Toy Story, just in case, but since I will be there on weekdays (and probably not usually a Friday, either), non-holidays, so far I think the M&F lot will work out great and be my go-to!

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[2princesses*Mom]

I'm planning to skip the park lots and park at the the Courtyard theme park hotel for my visit next month.

I just saw this option on one of the IG accounts I follow (Magic Kingdom Mamas), they also have a full blog post about it.

It's directly across the street from the entrance. It's $25 ($5 more than the general parking in M&F or TS lots, but it's valet and a super quick walk, mush faster than the tram. You don't have to be a guest of the hotel either.....


We are AP holders (without the free parking) and typically park at our hotel, but we did a day trip last week arriving at 7:10 (8:00 entry), we parked at M&F, it wasn't too crowded but I was surprised at the time it took to walk through security, walk to the tram, wait (we only waited one rotation) and then the tram ride plus walk to the gates.